Garlic Shrimp/Spicy Garlic Peanut Sauce

Spicy Garlic Peanut Sauce:
4 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. Dried hot red pepper flakes, to taste
1 TBS oil (canola or safflower)
1 TBS tomato paste
1 tsp fresh lime juice
2 TBS canned coconut milk, unsweetened
4 TBS creamy peanut butter
3 TBS Hoisin sauce
1/2 tsp sugar
3/4 cup water

In a small pan, heat oil and cook garlic and red pepper flakes until garlic turns golden.

Whisk the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Lower heat, and then simmer sauce until thickened, about 1 minute. Sauce may be made up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated in a tightly covered container. Serve sauce warm or at room temperature.

Garlic Shrimp:
2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 1/2 cups cilantro leaves (reserve 1/2 cup for garnish)
1 cup canned coconut milk, unsweetened
6 garlic cloves, finely minced
3 TBS fresh lime juice
3 TBS fresh ginger, peeled and finely minced
3 tsp Soy sauce
4 tsp brown sugar

Place shrimp in a large plastic zip top bag. Place other ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until almost smooth. Pour over shrimp and turn to coat.

Refrigerate up to 2 hours.

Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add shrimp (shake off most of marinade and reserve). Cook shrimp, stirring constantly 2-3 minutes, or until pink and opaque.

Transfer to a large serving bowl; keep warm. Place 1 cup of peanut sauce into pan and add 1/2 cup of the reserved marinade. Cook stirring constantly, 1-2 minutes or until sauce bubbles.

Pour over shrimp and garnish with cilantro leaves.

Serve over cooked thin noodles (capellini or vermicelli) or jasmine rice.
Serves 6-8.